Collapsible tube and a protective jacket therefor



June 1951 J. w. KNOBLOCK 2,557,121

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Aria A PROTECTIVE JACKET THEREFOR Filed April 22, 1948 INVENTOR. flK ZJ M M03430 Patented June 19, F951 rice I GOLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND A PROTECTIVE JACKET THEREFQR James W. Knoblock, Queens, N. Y., assignor to The Fyr Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio Application April 22, 1948, Serial No. 22,625 s Claims. (01. 222 -105) This invention relates to collapsible tubes that are originally made with an opening in one end that is as large as the inside diameter of the tube, and more particularly to means for closing and sealing the large open end of such tubes.

It also relates to a. protective jacket for collapsible tubes, to prevent distortion in the shape of the tube, that may be caused by handling and shipping.

An object. of this invention is to provide means for and method of closing and sealing the open end of collaspible tubes, in such a manner that the sealed end of the tube will be within the size of its diameter.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a sealed closure of. the tube, as to permit its collapse by manual means or in an apparatus, either by air pressure, or by mechanical, means.

A further object of this invention is toprovide a protective jacket for collapsible tubes, to prevent distortion of their shape, while being filled, shipped or handled for any purpose.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a prior collapsible tube, with the bottom end closed fiat, and illustrating the manner in which it extends beyond the diameter of the body of the tube.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom showing the flat closure.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a tube bottom showing the flat closure curved to S-shape to keep it within the size of the tube diameter.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the lower end of a collapsible tube, having a bottom closure made. by contracting the wall to the tube center in a number of places, to form a closure with a plurality of seams which radiate from the tube center and showing a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the modification shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a further form of the invention, partly in section and of a collapsible tube, having a concave-convex bottom inserted in the tube.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a protecting tube jacket, with a collapsible tube fastened therein.

Referring now to the drawing, It] represents a collapsible tube with its bottom end ll fiattened according to prior constructions. It will be seen that the flat end is about one and one 2 half times as wide, as the tube diameter through its main portion. The tube It has an outlet portion ll.

Tubes closed by this common method, are used for marketing many commodities. These tubes are usually small in size and light in weight. They require less care in handling and packing for shipment, than would comparatively large tubes with more and heavier contents, such as may be used.

As the size of the tube is increased, its comparative rigidity is diminished, but its capacity is increased, both in amount and in weight. Improved packaging for better protection of the tube is possible, if the bottom closure is made so that no part of the tube is wider than its diameter.

If the tube is to be fitted into a liquid ejector, as in a fire extinguisher spray device, it is important to limit the tube width and to keep it uniform.

In Fig. 3 is a collapsible tube 12, with its fiattened end closure l2 pressed into a form to bring the end closure within the size of the tube diameter. Other patterns may be formed with the flattened. end or" the tube, to accomplish the same purpose. One requirement is that the pattern should provide clearance to permit the forming members to be withdrawn. The seam is made tight by cement after being formed or it may be fused or soldered, before or after being formed.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a collapsible tube l3 has a bottom closure it, that is readily formed, by placing a template, sometimes called a spider, of thin metal inside the tube end, before the tube walls are pressed inward to form the desired pattern of seam. When the walls are pressed to the template on all sides, it is removed and the seams fully closed and cemented or soldered.

The seam ends are irregular when formed, and require trimming to appear level on the bottom as shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6, a collapsible tube I4 has an inverted concave-convexcup M, inserted within the bottom of the tube M. The cup [4 is preferably thicker than the tube wall l4, and is arched to aid in supporting the weight of the tube contents.

This type of tube closure is better suited to a collapsible tube that is intended to be emptied by exposure to air pressure, and experience has shown that the concave-convex form aids collapse with good results. The seam formed by, the member and the wall of the tube is preferably sealed by fusing or by soldering.

In Fig. 7, a protective jacket 15 has a collapsible tube 14, fitted therein. Tube M, has the bottom closure [4 shown in Fig. 6, that is permanently retained by a bottom support member l1. Tubes with any other suitable form of bottom closure may be protected by this form of jacket.

The tube 14 is secured at the top by member [6 which may be a formed ring, or segments of a ring, and are preferably fastened in place before the tube It is put in the jacket l5. The bottom retainer i? also may be a ring or segments of a ring, and is preferably secured, after being fitted to hold the tube l4 firmly in place.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, jacket I is of solid material such as paper, fibre, plastic or metal, but it may also be corrugated, or of some suitable meshed construction. Also the bottom retainer I1 is permanently fastened so that the tube I4, while still within the jacket 15, may be placed in a discharging device and the tube l'4 collapsed by air or gas pressure, admitted to contact with the tube 14 by ventilating holes IS.

The tube I8, when alone, is soft and easily distorted, but when secured within the jacket 15, the combined unit is sturdy and will withstand rough handling and shipment.

It also has the advantage, that when the tube is to be collapsed by pressure either mechanical or by air or gas as in a fire extinguisher, or a spraying device, of the air pressure type, it is strong enough to be tightly fitted into the apparatus with which it is to be used. This tight fitting will reduce the ill effects of vibration on the tube, and will also reduce the open space in the apparatus. Open space in such an apparatus increases the amount of air required to pressure collapse the tube.

I do not wish to confine myself to an embodiment which permanently secures the tube l4 within the jacket 15, as it is obviously an easy matter to construct the jacket so as to permit the tube I4 to be removed after using.

While it is not shown on the drawing, the jacket i5 may also be secured to the tube M by means of strong adhesive paper or cloth. This would preferably be in the form of a washer, centrally apertured to fit around the neck of tube 14, and be fastened down tight, about the upper sides of the jacket 15. A similar piece could be arranged to suit the tube bottom 14. The adhesive material could be pieces of tape. The adhesive material would be secured by means of a strong glue or cement.

While various changes may be made in the de- 4 tail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention a defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A protective jacket adapted. to be received within an outer container subject to an expelling gas pressure, said jacket closely overlying and being secured in supporting relation to the outer wall of a collapsible tube containing a material to be expelled upon release of said gas pressure, said jacket supporting and protecting said tube prior to expulsion of the contents thereof, said jacket having openings therethrough providing for inflow of said gas pressure into direct contact with the outer wall of said tube to cause separation of said tube from said jacket and resultant collapse of said tube to expel the content thereof.

2. A protective jacket as defined in claim 1 in which said jacket is adhesively secured to the outer wall of said tube Which is separable inwardly therefrom in response to application of said external pressure.

3. The combination of a collapsible tube and a protective jacket therefor adapted to be received within an outer container subject to an expelling gas pressure, said tube containing a material to be expelled upon release of said external pressure, said protective jacket being secured to the outer Wall of said tube in overlying and protective relation thereto prior to expulsion of the contents thereof, said jacket having openings therethrough providing for inflow of said external gas pressure through the wall of said jacket into contact with said outer Wall of the tube to cause collapse of said tube with resultant separation from said jacket and the expulsion of the contents of said tube.

JAMES W. KNOBLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 684,986 Higgins Oct. 22, 1901 1,592,584 Viegelmann July 13, 1926 1,869,594 Johnston Aug. 2, 1932 2,084,273 Beach June 15, 1937 2,105,160 Piquerez Jan. 11, 1938 2,126,973 Piquerez Aug. 16, 1938 2,434,505 Miller Jan. 13, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,237 Great Britain Oct.28, 1915 294,187 Great Britain July 20, 1928 

